Chapter [X+3]: Fracture Born
The chamber looked like a war zone.
Cracks ran through every surface. Glass-shard sigils hovered in the air like ancient warning glyphs. Energy pulsed in violent gusts as Echo and Lazeril clashed again and again, neither giving ground. Where Echo moved with surgical precision, Lazeril countered with chaotic, destructive improvisation.
This wasn't just a battle.
It was two belief systems smashing against each other—with Kael's life as the fulcrum.
***
Lazeril's eyes glowed like twin embers, his grin unnerving.
"You've grown soft," he sneered, voice echoing unnaturally. "Back then, you would've killed me without blinking."
Echo's eyes narrowed, his body flickering with mirror distortions. He split—then reformed—as multiple images of himself exploded outwards, each attacking with flawless synchronicity.
Lazeril laughed, mad and radiant, spinning in a blaze of refracted shards. His own warped mirror clones struck back. "You forget—I wanted to be you."
They collided again, force ripping up the floor. A mirrorwave slammed into a nearby support beam, collapsing part of the chamber. Runes across the walls sparked violently, and the sanctum's foundation cried out under the strain.
"I was never your goal," Echo growled. "You were too busy chasing shadows."
Lazeril snapped his fingers. Dozens of cursed mirror chains burst from the walls and spiraled toward Echo.
Echo vanished into a mirrored ripple, reappearing behind Lazeril mid-air. He slammed a mirrored fist into the cultist's jaw. Lazeril flew backward, crashing into a column.
Blood splattered. Rubble fell.
And yet—he stood again.
Giggling.
"You can't kill faith, Echo," he whispered. "And I have seen the Messiah."
But Echo wasn't untouched.
A gash tore through his side. Blood soaked into his uniform, and his breath was uneven. A deep cut slashed over one brow, dripping crimson into one cold, silver eye. He gritted his teeth, shifting his stance.
"Still pretending you're the chosen one?" he said, voice gravel-thick.
Lazeril tilted his head, mockingly wiping blood from his lips.
"I'm not pretending anything. I believe."
Lazeril launched again, his hands bursting into jagged mirror-sabers. Echo blocked with a mirrored plate, but Lazeril twisted, landing a blow across Echo's back. Blood flew.
Echo hissed, dropped low, and countered with a spinning slash of mirrorlight, slicing across Lazeril's ribs.
The two staggered back, both breathing heavily now, sweat and blood mixing in the dust swirling between them.
"Wasn't this easier when we were allies?" Lazeril chuckled.
"You were never my ally. You were a shadow in the wrong place," Echo spat.
Lazeril grinned, delirious. "But I'm your equal now. And I'll take the Messiah back."
Echo charged forward, and for a moment, their bodies blurred into a storm of light and darkness, every blow shaking the room. Echo caught a slash to the chest. Lazeril was hurled against the wall, ribs cracking audibly.
Then—
Boom.
A surge of mirrored energy erupted, and both were thrown back. Echo hit the floor hard, groaning, rolling to his side, blood leaking from his mouth. He wiped it with you the back of his hand, eyes blazing through the pain.
From behind broken columns, Kael appeared for a split second, guiding Arlen deeper into the facility. His eyes briefly caught the scene—saw Echo broken, bleeding, still rising.
He's still fighting... Kael thought, stunned.
Echo looked like death itself in motion. His uniform torn, knuckles shredded, face bruised and eyes glassy. And still—he got up.
Back to the war.
Echo's power flared again.
"You will not touch him."
Lazeril laughed, blood coating his teeth.
"You're bleeding like a mortal. Your body is failing. Admit it, Echo—this world was always meant to be his "
And they rushed each other again.
***
Just a hallway over, Kael paused. Something shifted in the air—a foreign energy sliding into the edges of his senses.
He turned.
A silhouette appeared just at the far end. Cloaked. Silent. Watching.
Kael's eyes narrowed. Arlen muttered, "Why do I get the feeling this dude isn't here to give us directions?"
Then the silhouette smiled.
"Messiah."
A flash of pressure hit Kael's chest.
Before Kael could fully react, Echo's voice snapped over their comms:
"Kael—go. Now."
And Kael did. He grabbed Arlen's arm, dragging him forward as they disappeared into another hallway.
Back in the sanctum, Echo and Lazeril crashed into each other again—
And the ceiling finally gave way.